Window construction



Jan. 19, 1937.

R. w. MOLAUQHLIN, JR 2,068,243-

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed June 8 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO'RNEY Jan 19,1937- R. w. MOLAUGHLIN, JR 2,068,243

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed June 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1937- R. w. MLAUGHLINfJR 2,058,243

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed June 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 *BW WV PatentedJan. 19, 1937 Robert W. McLaughlin; Jr.,

signor to American Houses, Inc.,

New York, N. Y., as-

New York,

N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June a,- 1935, Serial No.25,582 9 Claims. (01. 189-64) This invention relates to new and improvedwindow constructions, and has for its object generally the provision ofa window structure comprising a plurality of light-transmitting elementsco-operating with other elements to form a normally dead air chamberwith associated means adapted .to position an element adapted to reflectradiant heat within said chamber.

A further object of he invention is to'proo vide a metalliclight-reflecting and adjustable curtain or screen within a chamberformed in part by a plurality of window elements, and to provide ascreen of sucha character that a substantial portion of the infra-redheating rays are reflected therefrom, the screen thus acting as aninsulating element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a windowstructure and screen with associated vents so positioned as to permit aflow of air within the chamber formed in part by the window elements andbetween the screen and one only of the said window elements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a combinationwherein vents are so provided that either the portion of the chamberbetween the inner window element and the screen or the portion of thechamber between the outer window element and the screen may be cooled byan air-flow therethrough.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which may be readily and economically manufacturedand which may effectively perform the functions for which it isintended. I Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious andwill in part appear hereinafter.v

Theinvention accordingly comprises an article of'manufacturelpossessingi the features, properties, and the relation ofelements whichwill;

.9;. lee-exemplified in the article liereinattendescrl he'd. ation'ofwhich "wi be,

nd 1638 1 qibe' anp i ndic tsdi nt lai -1 w a ull mesa o the i ntiofi nadeta edges c0 nection w th l the accompany n im mcn; l

Fi is a viewpartially 11 pe Ham. .1, s ctiqn;- ow ng.

LP A hEmwnibr' Fig. 4 is a view. in section of the device shown inFig.1, taken along the line 4-4.

It has frequently been found desirable to increase the insulatingproperties of windows by providing double or storm windows, the window 5elements being spaced apart sufficiently to provide for an insulatingdead air space. ,Such a structure is particularly effective inair-conditioned dwellings or buildings Where it is intended primarilythat the windows will remain shut throughout the year, and where theefllciency of the entire system is frequently impaired by conductionlosses when single window elements are employed.

Even where such a double window structure is employed, however, it hasbeen foundthat in summer a considerable amount of heat is transmittedthrough the windows in the form of intrared radiation in sunlight, withthe result that the emciency of the air-conditioning system is goimpaired. It has been suggested that suitable screens or shades beemployed positioned in the path of the entering sunlight to block theinfrared radiation. If the shades are positioned within the dwelling,the radiation isblocked only after it has passed through the window, andthe shade itself may heat to a point where it impairs the efiiciency ofthe system, or if the shade employed be a heat-reflecting shade, theinner pane of glass and the air between the shade and window may heat toa point where the efficiency of the system is impaired and convectioncurrents set up within the dwelling.

Where. suitable shades or reflecting screens are positioned outside ofthe window, such acom struction possesses the disadvantagethat theshade'or screen is, exposed] to the weather and rapidly deteriorates; 1g 1.,

i enti n pq tem lai j ef ra i i'i i. use i; a 'fsuitable infr'a redbloclr'ingsliade es th "in er wirido ahd -the "provisioni'id suitablevents ventilating-elementsso that the other 45. wise dead airspacegbetween theushade and outer window lements may' b'eifiushed byracurrent. of: cool airrancl.zthe heaiiiaccumulating therein "thus idispersed. L-zvJWlith; l e

into contact with the sill II.

these elements are mounted in suitable wall panels I2. Mounted betweenthe head and sill are two windows I3 "and I I which may be of anysuitable type. As shown, the window I3, which is the exterior windowelement of the pair, is of standard casement window construction, whilethe window I4, which is the interior window element of the pair, is ofstandard storm window construction, its upper portion fitting into thechannel I5- and its lower portion being forced Between the two windowsand along each jamb of the window frame, channel elements I6 may beprovided to receive and position the edges of a suitable screen or shadeelement I1. As shown, this shade or screen may be mounted on a shaderoller I8 in such a manner that the screen may be raised and lowered byrotating theroller through any suitable control means accessible fromwithin the dwelling. Such means are not shown here in the interests ofclearness. The shade roller may be positioned as shown within arecessformed in Dart at least within the head of the window frame.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs.'2 and 4, vents areprovided adjacent the outer window element, 'one adjacent the head I 0and another adjacent the sill II to permit a current of cool air to passacross the face of the screen element I I within the chamber formedbetween that element and the outer window element, and thus dissipateany heated air which may collect within the chamber. These vents maycomprise a plurality of cooperating elements I9 and 20, one slidablewith respect to the other, and each element provided with openings orperforations which may be caused to become in registry or not as theslidable element is moved with respect to its cooperating element. Theslidable element of each pair forming the ventilating means may beprovided with a suitable handle 2|. It has been found desirable toprotect the rents by an overhanging drip or shield 22, which as shown inFig. 2 may, if desired, comprise a portion of a metallic strip formingthe window head flashing and the metal shade roller box. Vents may alsobe provided, as at 23, in connection with the inner window so that whenthe outer vents are closed and the inner vents opened a circulation ofair from within the dwelling and.

through the chamber formed between the screen and the inner windowelement may be secured.

It will be obvious that many types of shade or screen elements may beemployed. The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a shade orscreen adapted to reflect to a great degree infra-red radiation whichmay impinge thereon. It has been found that a screen of metallic mesh,as for example aluminum mesh, is highly eflicient. The interstices insuch a .mesh permit suflicient light to enter the dwelling while themetallic surface acts effectively to reflect'a high percentage of theinfra-red radiation. A plurality of cooperating meshes superimposed withrespect to each other and separated from each other by a small spacehave been found to increase substantially the efiiciency of the shade orscreen.

. In lieu of a mesh screen other suitable shades or screens may beemployed. For example, thin slats of infra-red reflecting substance maybe employed in that type of structure known generally as a Venetianblind. So also curtains may be employed which slide back to :the sidesof the windows or within recesses provided in the window jambs.

While greatest efilciency is secured with the use of a screen whichreflects infra-red radiation to a great degree, it is to be understoodthat other screens may be employed; even infra-red absorbing screens orshades for the current of air set up when the vents are opened willeffectively cool the chamber between the two window elements even if thescreen positioned therein is light-absorbent. I

The operation of the device is as follows: In summer, when the interiorof the dwelling is cooled, whenever sunlight begins to enter through thewindow the vents I9 and 20 associated with the outer window element areopened and the 'shade II drawn down to intercept the sunlight.

The light, including the infra-red radiation impinging upon the screenI1, is reflected and does not reach the interior window element I4. Asthe space between the screen I! and'the outer window element I3gradually becomes heated through the absorption by the screen of some ofthe heat rays and the absorption by the window I3 of other of the heatrays, the heated air within this space rises and passes out through thevent which underlies the head of the window frame. Cooler air is drawnin through the lower vent which overlies the sill and the space betweenthe screen I! and the window element I3 is thus prevented fromoverheating. As a result, the normal dead air chamber between the twowindow elements is kept at least as cool as the outdoor temperature andthe infra-red radiation is pre-.

vented by the screen from impingin upon the inner, window element andthus entering the dwelling. Losses through conduction and through theentry of radiant heat into the cooled interior of the dwelling are thusreduced to a minimum.

In winter, when it is desired to retain the radiant heat which isgenerated within the dwelling, the outer vents, i. e., those ventsadjacent the outer window elementl3, are closed and the inner vents 23adjacent the inner window element I4 are opened. When the shade I1 isthen positioned to block the passage of radiant heat through the doublewindow, the space between the shade I I and the inner window I4 beginsto heat, for some of the radiant heat will be absorbed by the window I4and some by the screen II. The heated air within this space rises andpasses through the upper vent 23 into the dwelling. When the device isoperating under conditions just outlined, the heat loss from within thedwelling to the exterior is reduced to a minimum.

It will be apparent that the structure shown and described acts toprevent leakage of heat from within the building in winter and fromwithout the building in summer, by providing means adapted to preventthe overheating of the normal dead air space between the two windowelements and by providing means, to flush that space in such a-mannerthat heated air collecting therein is prevented from coming in contactwith that one of the window elements through which a minimum of theinfra-red radiation passes.

It will be obvious that other forms 01' window elements may be used thanthose described, that other forms of vents may be employed, and thatother forms of screens or curtains may also be employed.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and differentembodiments of the invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic" and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a plurality of spaced light-transmittingelements, means adapted toform a chamber therewith, aradiant-heat-reflecting element, means to position said reflectingelement within said chamber and between said light-transmittingelements, and vents positioned to provide a flow of air within saidchamber and between said reflecting element and one of saidlight-transmitting elements.

2. In combination with a plurality of spaced light-transmittingelements, means adapted to form a chamber therewith, a metalliclight-reflecting element-means to position said metalliclight-reflecting element within said chamber and between saidlight-transmitting elements, and

vents positioned to provide a flow of air within,

said chamber and between said metallic lightreflecting element and oneof said light-transmitting elements.

3. In combination with a plurality of spaced light-transmittingelements, means adapted to form a chamber therewith, a light-reflectinelement of metallic m'esh, means to position said light-reflectingelement within said chamber and between said light-transmittingelements, and vents positioned to provide a flow of air within saidchamber and between said light-reflecting element and one of saidlight-transmitting elements.

4. In combination with a plurality of spaced window elements, meansadapted to form'a chamber therewith, an adjustably mounted elementadapted to intercept and reflect infra-red radiation, means to positionsaidreflecting element within said chamber and between saidwindowelements, and a plurality of closable vents positioned to permit a flowof air within said chamber and across that face of said reflectingelement adapted to receive the greatest amount of infra-red radiation.

5. In combination with a plurality of spaced window elements and meanscooperating therewith to form a chamber, means adapted to position ascreen between said window elements and within said chamber, a screenelement comprising a mesh of metallic light-reflecting material, rollermeans adapted to receive and support said screen, and closable ventspositioned to permit a flow of air'within said chamber and between saidscreen-positioning means and the outer of said window elements.

6. In combination with a plurality of spaced window elements and meanscooperating therewith to form a chamber, means adapted to position ascreen between said window elements and within said chamber, a screenelement comprising a mesh of metallic light-reflecting material, rollermeans adapted to receive and support said screen, and closable ventspositioned to permit a flow of air within said chamber and between saidscreen-positioning means and the inner of said window elements.

7. In combination with a plurality of spaced window elements and meanscooperating therewith to form a chamber, means adapted to position ascreen between said window elements and within said chamber, a screenelement comprising a mesh of metallic light-reflecting material, rollermeans. adapted to receive and support said screen, and closable ventspositioned to permit a flow of air within said chamber and between saidscreen-positioning means and either of said window elements.

8. In combination with a plurality of spaced window elementsand meanscooperating therewith to form a chamber, means adapted to position ascreen element comprising a mesh of metallic light-reflecting material,roller means adapted to receive and support said screen, and closablevents positioned to permit a flow of air within said chamber and betweensaid screen-positioning means and the outer of said window elements,said roller means being spacedly positioned from the path of said flowof air.

9. In combination, two spaced window elements, a roller element beyondthe peripheries of said window elements, a mesh screen of metallic,lightreflecting material and adapted to be received and supported bysaid roller element and adapted to be extended spacedly between saidwindow elements, a vent at one end of one of said window elements, avent at the other end of said one of said window elements, a vent at oneend of the other of said window elements, a vent at the other end ofsaid other of said window elements, each of said vents being openableand closable,'a1l of the before-mentioned parts being positioned so thatair may pass through and between the two first-mentioned vents and/or sothat air may P ss through and between the two last-mentioned vents whensaid mesh screen is in extended position.

ROBERT W. McLAUGI-ILIN, JR.

